Oklahoma House Bill HB2837

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/1/21
• Refer: 2/2/21
• Refer: 2/10/21

Caption

Schools; transfer students; State Aid; athletic activities; length of school year; emergency transfers; effective date; emergency.

Impact

The bill specifically impacts state laws regarding the length of the school year and the conditions under which emergency transfers may be made. Notably, it prohibits schools from conducting athletic and extracurricular activities if they have not provided in-person instruction for at least four days in a given week. This measure is intended to encourage districts to maintain in-person education as a standard practice, thus aligning educational availability with extracurricular engagement.

Summary

House Bill 2837 focuses on the regulation of student transfers between school districts in Oklahoma and establishes guidelines related to state aid calculations for these students. The bill mandates that any receiving school district must ensure the availability of appropriate programs and services for transferred students before approving their transfer. This creates a mechanism for accountability where the receiving district is responsible for the educational outcomes and proper funding allocation for the students they receive, as per their designated grade and need categories.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB 2837 include the potential restriction on students' ability to participate in athletic and extracurricular activities based solely on their school district's temporary inability to offer in-person instruction. Critics may argue that this could unduly punish students who are otherwise engaged and benefit from such activities, especially during exceptional circumstances when in-person attendance would be limited. Additionally, there is concern over whether the burden of meeting these obligations might disproportionately affect smaller or less-resourced districts, potentially leading to inequities in educational opportunities across the state.